[From Peonies, by Allan Rogers, p. 9:] Peonies make excellent cut flowers, and a very large commercial market is in place for them... The worldwide wholesale peony cut flower trade began in earnest when Amasa Kennicott began to sell blooms to Chicago florists at a penny apiece back in 1884... This was the start of the still-flourishing Kennicott Brothers Commission house... Not only can they be picked in the bud stage and easily transported long distances but they are capable of withstanding the rigors of from four to six weeks in cold storage and will then open well when brought out into room temperature...Also see the FAQ for more information.